Dancing, Talking, and Only One Nap!

Kira is 1.5 years old TODAY!!  She had her 18 month appt. on two days ago and is in the 93rd% in height and 55th% in weight. 

She seems to now be moving to only one nap.  Much to the somewhat dismay of her mother who uses the morning nap to get work done on the days she works from home.  But alas, it had to happen.  She's been waking in the morning around 7:30 and going back down for a nap between 11:30-12:30 for (typically) 2 hours on the nose just like her brother.  Sometimes more, sometimes less.  Cole is, much to the dismay of both parents, seeming like he may give up his one nap at any time. 

Kira is also learning to "talk".  Big brother Cole is a great teacher in trying to get her to say different words.  We've had to teach him to teach her one or two syllable words instead of words like "dinosaur" or "interesting", but they both get great joy in being teacher and teachee!  It's fun to watch them play with this and listen to her garble in trying to repeat some things, while Cole laughs and laughs.

Kira has also found new loves in dancing (all around the living room, restaurant, or wherever she may be) and drawing.  She looks a bit like Elaine (from Seinfeld) when she dances, but loves moving to ANY type of music that catches her ear.  We also now have a second easel in the basement and she just sits and scribbles on it, or draws on any paper that happens to be lying around.  It's fun to watch the differences between the two kids... how many similar things they like, and also how different they are.

Lego fire truck... done!

Cole's first set of Legos complete! Gotta join the Lego Club online I guess. Though maybe we should keep him out of Legos considering their cost! He likes it but wants to play with it like a regular toy and doesn't much like it when it falls apart. :-)

Kira in the crib

This week Kira decided she didn't want to take a nap.  She stood in her crib and yelled when I walked out of the room...five minutes later I looked at the monitor and saw she had rested her head on the crib rail.  Ten minutes after that I noticed she hadn't moved AND her eyes were closed!!!!  She had fallen asleep standing up - TOO FUNNY!  It was another five minutes before she either slipped off or woke up and decided to lie down.  I guess she was tired after all :-)

More presents!

When we arrived home the kids found that there were even more presents! Dada and Mama couldn't fit the easel on the plane, so it awaited them at home.  Needless to say, they loved it and have used it everyday!  Our budding artists....now if only they'd keep it contained to the easel.  (Ahem...Kira!)

Louisiana Fun

We are always experiencing new and fun things when we visit Ama and Papaw - this time we roasted "weenies" and marshmallows with friends the day after Christmas.  Cole liked the crispy outside of the marshmallow, but was not a fan of the gooey stuff in the middle!

Snowtube

Kira enjoyed the double snow tube that Santa brought her and Cole for Christmas.  Who needs snow?  It's just as fun inside!

More fireworks!

We all enjoyed the fireworks!

Fireworks!

Thankfully a three-year old is much easier to distract than an adult.  (With a double ear-infection and pneumonia I'd be curled up in the corner crying!) He felt well enough to enjoy the Christmas Eve fireworks display that Papa and Dada put on! 

Christmas Eve at the Hospital

Poor Cole endured a very unpleasant visit to the emergency room on Christmas Eve.  He was poked, prodded, and x-rayed.  We spent almost five hours there waiting for the blood test results, getting meds, getting shots, etc.  Turns out the 104 fever was from the double ear infection and pneumonia in his lungs.  Poor, poor bugger.  They gave him a shot of antibiotics in the bum right away for the severe ear infections, and an additional prescription for the pneumonia, and ear drops for the pain - as well as a dose of both Tylenol and Motrin to get the fever down.  Cole was extremely brave during all of the procedures.  My heart just broke for him...